Fibre carding machine attachment



Oct. 9, 1962 Filed June 27. 1960 J. M DOWELL M LEOD FIBRE CARDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 9, 1962 J. M DOWELL M LEOD 3,057,020

FIBRE CARDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed June 2'7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. (JAMES ficDoueu. M 1500 dim, AM /0;"

Array/vars United States Patent 3,057,020 FIBRE CARDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT James McDowell McLeod, 3443 Blossom St., Columbia, S.C. Filed June 27, 1960, Ser. No. 38,834 3 Claims. (Q1. 19-113) This invention relates to a fibre carding machine attachment and more particularly is concerned with an improvement in the means for mounting carding mediums on the carding flats of such a machine. Carding machines in general are of two types, to wit, those which utilize revolving flats for carding, that is to say, carding flats mounted for movement through an endless path, and those which employ stationary carding flats. This invention is specifically limited to the first type of machine.

It is an object of my invention to provide in a carding machine of the revolving flat type, a novel arrangement for securing the carding medium in place on the carding flats, which arrangement will permit easy replacement of any or all of the carding mediums on the individual carding flats at the factory, or when the carding machine is idle at the mill, or even when the carding machine is in operation.

It is another object of my invention to provide an arrangement of the character described that will permit intermittent use of the carding mediums thereby to lengthen their useful life, and that will not prevent the carding mediums from being brushed and cleaned during the cycles of their movement with the aid of the usual auxiliary devices.

It is another object of my invention to provide an arrangement for securing carding mediums to revolving flats in a manner such as to enable changes of mediums quickly to be made so that there will be no resistance to the use of the most efficient medium for any given set of conditions.

It is another object of my invention to provide an arrangement of the character described that will encourage the use of non-loading, rigid, abrasive, granular carding mediums such as recently have been proposed for stationary carding flats, thereby enabling these new mediums to be utilized with the additional advantage inherent in revolving flats.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved mounting means for quickly, detachably attaching carding mediums to revolving carding flats.

Other objects of my invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the devices hereinafter described and of which the scope of applica-v tion will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown various possible embodiments of my invention,

FIG. 1 is a schematic view rt a conventional carding machine of the type which is adapted to employ my new mounting means;

FIG. 2 is a perspective partially fragmentary view of a part of a series of revolving carding flats with one. of

the flats having the new mounting means secured thereon.

and with one new mounting means in detached position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective sectional view of the mounting means shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7.and 8 are views similar to FIG. 4, but

showing four modified forms of my invention; and

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view through an at-.

tachment embodying still another modified form of my invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I have in FIG. 1 shown a revolving flat type of carding machine 10 which is conventional in all aspects save for my new mounting means for securing the carding mediums to the flats. More particularly, the machine 10 includes a frame 12 on which there are journalled for rotation about parallel horizontal axes a lickerin 14, a carding cylinder 16 and a dofling cylinder 18. A lap 20 is fed into the carding machine from a supply roll 21 resting on a lap roll 22. The forward end of the unrolling lap passes over a feed plate 23 and under a hold-down feed roll 24 on its way to the lickerin which, as is usual, turns at a comparatively high speed, e.g., 500 r.p.m., to pull fibres off the lap as it is advanced thereto and transfer the fibres to the needle surface 26 of the carding cylinder. The carding cylinder turns at a slower rate, e.g., 160 r.p.m., and draws the fibres beneath the revolving flats 28 which will be described in detail hereinafter, said fibres thereafter being removed from the carding cylinder by the needle surface 30 of the doffing cylinder 18 that turns comparatively slowly, e.g., 10 rpm.

The basic structure of the revolving flats is conventional, the same essentially com-prising two pairs of registered sprockets 32, 34 spaced at different angular locations near the periphery of the carding cylinder. Customarily, and as shown in the machine 10, such angular spacing is about of the periphery of the carding cylinder. Thereby, there is provided at each side of the carding cylinder two, i.e., a set 32, 34, of angularly spaced sprockets. Trained about each set of sprockets is a chain 36 of any standard form such that it can engage the sprockets. Accordingly, the carding flats will include two parallel chains, each of which runs bteween two sprockets on a side of the car-ding cylinder. Suitable idlers and guides (not shown) maintain the radially inner and radially outer reaches of each chain in approximate concentricity with the axis of rotation of the carding cylinder. One pair of sprockets is driven, the direction of rotation thereof being such that the lowermost circular reach of the two chains is in the direction of the arrow A, this being the same direction as the direction of movement of the needle surface 26 of the carding cylinder, but much slower, i.e., a few inches per minute as compared to more than a thousand feet per minute for the cardingcylinder.

The two chains have secured thereto the opposite ends of a large number of parallel elongated flats 38, each flatbeing of uniform T-shaped cross-section and the ends of each flat customarily being mounted on the pins that join the links of the chains. Guiding means (not illustrated) maintain the shanks 40 of the flats substantially radial to the center of rotation of the carding cylinder as the flats move along the radially inner reach, so that the heads 42 of the flats will be substantially perpendicular to the radii of the carding cylinder that run to the heads.

As thus far' described, the carding machine and the revolving flats are entirely conventional and form no part of my invention.

' Each carding flat of a standard revolving type carding machine further includes a carding medium, such, for instance, as a needle-clothing the back of which is juxtaposed against the surface of the head of the flat that faces the carding cylinder (hereinafter referred to as the outer surface), the needle-clothing being held by said surface by a pair of radial clips running the length of the head at each side of the flat and clamping the clothing against the head. Such clips do not permit a rapid change of the carding mediums, allow involuntary disengagement of the carding mediums, and prohibit the use of low, i.e., short,

carding mediums, such, for instance, as granular carding mediums, since the clip customarily will protrude above the outer surface a distance greater than the height of such a carding medium and thereby prevent its effective operation.

Pursuant to my invention, I have provided a new mounting means 44 for the carding mediums which means is not subject to any of the foregoing disadvantages. Said mounting means essentially comprises a transverse clip, each clip having a pair of fingers which prehensilely and directly engage the inner and outer surfaces of the head of a carding flat at both sides thereof and which has a carding medium mounted on the outer surface of the clip but not clamped to and, indeed, out of contact with the head, this being in contrast to the previous attaching means which pressed the carding medium against the head of the fiat.

More particularly, the new mounting means 44 serves as a support for a carding medium 46, that is to say, a clothing, and constitutes an elongated member of uniform transverse cross-section that includes a wide elongated flat wall 48 having a width slightly in excess of the width of the head 42 and a pair of legs 50, 52 which are parallel to one another and extend in the same direction substantially perpendicularly away from the lateral edges of the wall 48. The distance between the inner surfaces of the t legs 50, 52 is substantially equal to the width of the head. Extending inwardly toward one another from the tip of the legs 50, 52 are two elongated coplanar flanges 54, 56. The distance between the facing surfaces of the flanges 54, 56 and the wall 48 is substantially equal to the thickness of the head 42. Each flange and the associated marginal edge zone of the wall 48 constitute one pair of elongated gripping fingers so that the mounting means includes a pair of gripping fingers which are spaced transversely, i.e., transversely of the width of the mounting means. The two pairs of gripping fingers and the wall 48 form a clip that extends across the outer surface of the head 42, embraces both sides of said head and also engages the undersurface of said head.

Desirably, all parts of the clip are in one piece, said clip preferably being made of a synthetic plastic material which in its most emonomic form is fashioned by extruding, although it is to be understood that I do not exclude other methods such, for instance, as molding or bending. It also should be understood that my invention is not necessarily limited to the use of synthetic plastics exclusively for manufacture of the clip. For instance, the clip can be made from metal or from rubber or from laminated plastics. Regardless of the material from which it is fabricated, the clip has some degree of resilience and should be tough and strong, inasmuch as one of its prime functions is to prehensilely grasp the head of the revolving flat. To further this function the distance between the facing surfaces of the wall 48 and flanges 54, 56 may be slightly less than, e.g., one-thousandth of an inch less than, or almost exactly equal to the thickness of the head, and the same correlation may exist betWen the inner width of the clip and the width of the head, so that said clip will have its legs and its fingers spread slightly while the clip is in engagement with the head of the flat, thereby making certain that the clip firmly holds the flat and will remain in its proper position as it moves over the revolving card cylinder. Any suitable type of plastic can be employed which answers to the physical requirements above stated. For instance, I may use a high impact styrene, that is to say, a styrene which, as well known, is modified with Buna-S rubber. Alternatively, I may utilize a compatible mixture of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene resins.

The length of the clip is approximately equal to the length of a carding flat and may either be slightly shorter or slightly longer depending upon the particular design of the carding machine. In the preferred form of my invention, the inner width of the clip, i.e., the width between the legs 50, 52 is one and five-sixteenths of an inch, the inner length of the legs, i.e., between the flanges 54,

56 and wall 48, is seven thirty-seconds of an inch, and the width of the flanges is not less than about one-eighth of an inch. A suitable thickness for the clip is fifty-five thousandths of an inch. It will be understood that the fore going dimensions have been given as exemplificative and are not to be construed as a limitation upon the scope of my invention.

The fit between the clip 44 and the head 42 of a revolving carding flat is close and frictional, the same being quite clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Such fit provides a sufiiciently high static friction, due to the prehensile grip of the clip fingers, to prevent axial movement of the clip once it has been positioned on the revolving flat. The clip can be installed either by sliding the same axially on the head or by springing apart the legs of the clip to permit them to embrace the head and then releasing them.

The clothing 46 is attached to the clip in a suitable fashion, the same being disposed on the outer long broad surface of the clip, i.e., the outer surface of the wall 43. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the back of the clothing '46 is fastened to this surface of the wall 48 by adhesive. The clothing 46 shown in these figures comprise a plastic film to the outer surface of which there is permanently secured, as by a pressure-sensitive adhesive provided on said outer surface, a layer of abrasive granules 58. I have found that various sizes and types of granules function satisfactorily in accordance with my invention, a typical range of granule sizes being from 40 to 120. Suitable granules are particles of silicon carbide, emery, silica or aluminum. The surface thus formed is non-loading, rigid, abrasive and granular. The undersurface of the film likewise has a pressure-sensitive adhesive characteristic so that the film can be attached securely to the outer surface of the wall 48 simply by placing the same thereon and pressing it against the wall. The film can be removed from the wall by stripping so that the same clip can be re-used after it has been provided with a fresh abrasive surface.

It will be apparent that the specific type of clothing employed is entirely a matter of choice and selection on the part of the carding overseer or superintendent. For example, if desired, there may be employed, a needle clothing as shown in FIG. 7. The needle clothing is entirely conventional per se and constitutes the usual woven backing 59 from which there protrude a number of closely spaced short steel wires that are embedded in the backing. The rear face of the backing cloth is secured to the exterior face of the wall 48 as by adhesive so that the clothing and clip form an integral unit.

It also is within the scope of my invention to vary the particular construction of the gripping portions of the clip (the mounting means) and of the portions which secure the clothing to the clip. For example, in FIG. 5, I have shown a clip 44' embodying a modification in the construction of the legs 50, 52' (in describing the modified forms of my invention parts similar to those of the first described form but embodying variations have been designated by the same reference numeral with a prime affixed to indicate a change in construction). Said legs 50', 52 are outwardly bowed to increase their flexibility and permit them to exert a substantial gripping force on the sides of a carding flat without experiencing too marked an angular deviation when positioned for operation.

In FIG. 6, I have illustrated a mounting means 44" having a changed shape for the flanges 54", 56". Each said flange 54", 56 includes a protuberance 60 ad jacent its tip, said protuberance facing and extending toward the inner surface of the wall 48" whereby the protuberances will bear against the inner surface of the head 42 of a carding flat and the flanges will flex about their zones of attachment to the legs 50", 52". Such an arrangement permits the clip to accommodate itself easily to carding heads of slightly different thicknesses.

In FIG. 9, there isshown a mounting means 44" which is so formed as to protect the longitudinal edges of a backing used for needle clothing. Said mounting means has at opposite longitudinal edges of the wall 48" angle shaped flanges 62 one leg 62a of each of which is coplanar with the associated leg 50", 52, and the other leg 62b of which is parallel to the wall 48". The two legs 62b are coplanar and spaced apart. The Wall 48" and the angled members 62 define a thin, flat space for accommodation of a woven backing 64 having wires protruding therefrom and filling the space between the inner edges of the legs 6212 which thus serve as a keeper means.

In FIG. 8 I have shown a mounting means 44A embodying a modified form of my invention which permits a fiat type, i.e., granular, carding surface to be set closer to the carding surface of the carding cylinder without disturbing the set-up of the revolving carding flats. The mounting means 44A is identical to the mounting means 44 except that the wall 48A on which the granular carding medium 46A is supported is displaced away from the associated carding flat 42 by offset flanges 65 and backing ribs 65A. By utilizing flanges and ribs in sets of difierent widths a range of settings between the carding surfaces can be secured.

It thus will be seen that I have provided a fibre carding machine attachment which achieves the various objects of my invention and is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a carding flat having a head, and

a resilient mounting clip comprising transversely spaced pairs of parallel springy gripping fingers and a wall joining said fingers, said fingers prehensilely engaging the head adjacent the opposite sides thereof with the wall extending over, covering and in face to face contact with the outer surface of the head.

2. In combination, a carding flat having a head, and a resilient mounting clip comprising transversely spaced pairs of parallel springy gripping fingers and a wall joining said fingers, said fingers prehensilely engaging the head adjacent the opposite sides thereof with the wall extending over, covering and in face to face contact with the outer surface of the head, and a carding medium on the outer surface of said wall.

3. For use with a carding flat having a head, a resilient mounting clip comprising an elongated member constituting an elongated wall adapted to extend over, cover and be in face-to-face contact with the outer surface of the head, a pair of parallel springy legs extending away from the longitudinal edges of said wall and adapted to engage the sides of the head, flanges extending away from the tips of the legs and adapted to engage the undersurface of the head, and keeper means carried by the outer surface of the wall for engaging a clothing medium on said surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,181,535 Schlipp et al. Nov. 28, 1939 2,879,549 Miller et al. Mar. 31, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,222,918 France Jan. 25, 1960 952 Great Britain of 1888 

